If you applied for unemployment benefits and got a notice from Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) with instructions to verify your identity (ID), you must complete the ID verification to verify your claim. You will need the Access Code printed on the notice to start the ID verification process.
TWC offers two options for verifying your ID: 1) Verify online using ID.me, OR, 2) Verify in person at a participating US Postal Service (USPS) office. You need the Access Code printed on the notice sent you to select which option you want to use.
 YES - I Applied for Benefits Verify My Claim & My ID |  NO - I Did Not Apply for Benefits Report ID Fraud |
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Verify your ID only if you applied for benefits. This verifies you are the person who applied. To verify your identity:
Benefits will be denied if you do not verify your ID. Keep reading for more information about each option. | Do not complete the ID verification if you did not apply for unemployment benefits.
Go to Report ID Fraud and complete the form to report you did not apply for benefits.
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I Got a Notice Saying I Did Not Verify My ID When Instructed. What Should I Do?
If you received a determination saying we cannot pay benefits because you did not complete the required ID verification, then you MUST complete the ID verification. Successfully completing the ID verification will resolve the issue faster then filing an appeal.
Verify My Claim and My Identity
If you applied for unemployment benefits and received a notice to verify your identity, you must complete the ID verification process to verify that you submitted the claim.
Report ID Fraud Claim
If an imposter applied for unemployment benefits using your identity, or you suspect ID fraud on your claim, report the ID Fraud. (Do NOT complete the ID verification process if you did not apply.)
How to Verify My Identity
Verify your ID only if you applied for benefits because this will validate the claim as yours.
Verify Online Using ID.me
- Go to Identity Verification.
- Enter your Access Code, shown on the contact letter.
- Select Next, then select Verify using ID.me.
- Create an ID.me account under your name and Social Security number (SSN).
- If you have not used ID.me before, you must create an account using your name and Social Security number (SSN). You may not log in to ID.me using another person's account. Failure to create your own account will result in a denial of benefits.
- Follow all instructions to submit photos of your government ID, take a selfie video, and enter your SSN.
- Once your ID is confirmed, you MUST select “Allow and Continue” to share your information with TWC. Your verification is not complete, and benefits will be denied, if you do not allow your information to be shared.
For more help, watch this Tutorial for using ID.me.
Verify in Person at a US Postal Service Office
To verify your ID using the USPS Identity Verification service, you must first sign up and receive an Enrollment Code. After receiving the Enrollment Code, you must complete your ID verification by going to a participating US Post Office, in person, within 7 days and providing the required documents. Failure to verify your ID will result in a denial of benefits.
Follow these steps to verify your ID using USPS Identity Verification:
- Go to Identity Verification.
- Enter your Access Code, shown on the contact letter.
- Select Next, then select Verify at a participating USPS office.
- Follow all instructions to sign up to verify your ID at a US Post Office.
- Once registered, you can print the webpage with your Enrollment Code. It will also be emailed to you.
- You must go to a participating USPS location within 7 calendar days to verify your ID.
Your verification is not complete until you go to a US Post office in person and provide valid ID documents. The US Post Office will automatically notify TWC after you complete the ID verification.
To verify your identity in person at a participating USPS office, you will need to provide:
- A valid government-issued ID. Acceptable forms of ID are:
- State driver’s license
- State ID card
- U.S. Armed Forces or uniformed service ID card (requires secondary ID)
- U.S. Passport (requires secondary ID)
- Proof of your current address. If you do not live at the address shown on your ID, you will need proof of address.
TWC partnered with ID.me to verify claimant information and prevent unemployment benefits ID fraud. The process is fast, easy, and secure. If you have not used ID.me before, you must create an account using your name and Social Security number (SSN). You may not log in to ID.me using another person's account. Failure to create your own account will result in a denial of benefits.
Most claimants can verify their identity using the ID.me self-service webpage. You can use a smart phone to submit photos of your:
- Unexpired* government-issued ID (driver license or passport).
- Financial and utility records (credit bureaus, mobile phone providers, etc.).
- Biometric verification (a photo of yourself, i.e. a "selfie" that matches the ID sent for #1).
You might not be able to use the self-service webpage if:
- The photos of your government-issued ID or your personal photo (selfie) are blurry or shadowed.
- If you have credit issues, such as no credit or frozen credit or your credit information is incorrect.
- Or if the phone number you submit is not associated with your name.
If you cannot use the self-service option, you may be able to verify your identity during a video conference call with ID.me. To verify your identity using a video call, you will need:
- Two primary forms of valid, unexpired IDs.
- A smart phone or tablet to take pictures.
- A device that will allow you to join a video call, such as a computer with a webcam and microphone or a phone with a camera.
- For the video call, you will need to upload pictures of your IDs, take a photo of yourself (selfie) and submit it, and be able to answer some questions verbally.
What if I Can Not Complete All the Steps at the Same Time?
If you are not able to complete all the steps to verify your ID, you can stop and come back to restart the process by following these steps. For more help, watch this Tutorial for using ID.me.
- Go to Identity Verification.
- Enter your Access Code, shown on the contact request letter.
- Select Next, then select Verify with ID.me.
- Sign in to your ID.me account using the email address and password you created for your ID.me account.
- Complete any necessary steps to verify your ID.
- Once your ID is confirmed, you MUST select “Allow and Continue” to share your ID verification information with TWC.
How Do I Confirm I Completed ID.me?
To confirm you using ID.me:
- Sign on to your ID.me account.
- In the "My IDs" section, you should see a "Verified Identity" card.
- Next, select the "Sign In & Security" tab.
- On the left menu, select "Privacy".
- In the "Websites name" section, see if "Texas TWC" is listed.
If Texas TWC is not listed, you will need to try verifying again and, at the end, select “Accept and Continue” when asked to share your information with TWC.
If Texas TWC is listed, then you have shared your verified identity information with TWC. To see what information you are sharing, select “View Data Shared.”
For more help, read “Finding who you shared your information with – ID.me Help Center.”
Why Does ID.me Say My Identity Verification Unsuccessful?
ID.me does not provide that information to TWC. If your ID verification was unsuccessful, you need to follow the step-by-step instructions on how to resolve problems using ID.me. Read “I couldn't verify my identity – ID.me Help Center.”
Report unemployment benefits ID fraud on TWC’s secure online fraud portal. Examples of ID fraud to report include:
- If an imposter applied for unemployment benefits using your Social Security number (SSN)
- If a fraudster, or someone pretending to be from TWC, attempted to get your personal information.
- You believe a fraudster has changed information on your claim.
Do not complete the ID verification on a claim you did not file because that validates the claim.
See the Unemployment Benefits Identity Fraud page for more information about fraud.
See the Avoiding Scams and Schemes page for information and tips.
Need Help Using ID.me?
Check out the ID.me Help Center if you have questions about ID.me or need help. Troubleshooting topics include:
- I can’t sign in to my account.
- My documents were rejected.
- I can’t upload photos of my documents.
- My selfie didn’t work.
- I have more than one account.